International trade is a vital part of the U.S. economy. But, too often, powerful corporate interests have negotiated trade deals in secret; stacking the deck in their favor to increase profits for the biggest and most unscrupulous corporations at the expense of working people.

Working people need trade policies that support good jobs at home and boost sustainable development abroad. Trade agreements should be well-balanced, stimulate the creation of good jobs, protect the rights and interests of working people, and promote a healthy environment. Trade agreements must be enforced fairly, quickly and consistently. As America’s working people have learned the hard way, trade agreements without complementary policies such as infrastructure investment, export promotion strategies and active labor market policies will not produce shared prosperity, but only help concentrate wealth in the hands of the 1%.

Giving foreign corporations special rights to challenge laws outside of the legal system is a bad deal to everyone except those corporations.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on ISDS

Did You Know

When corporations use ISDS courts, they win most of the time. More than 95% of the money awarded in ISDS court decisions—more than $8.5 billion—went to the world’s biggest corporations and rich individuals. Working people rarely use the courts and rarely win when they do.